The Youth Detention Facility, also known as YDF, is a secure facility for the housing of juvenile offenders in Sacramento County. Some kids will stay at YDF to serve out their sentence, while others are placed in facilities that can better meet their needs. Either way, Youth Detention Facility is the first stopping place for minors when they are placed in the juvenile justice system.
According to the county website, YDF is supposed to provide “a safe and secure environment for our youth.” With that in mind, administrators and staff “strive to promote the health and well-being of the youth we serve by encouraging law-abiding behavior, teaching individual accountability for one’s choices, and supporting positive change.”
That sounds like a value system that anyone would approve of, but is this what’s really going on behind closed doors at the Youth Detention Facility? The truth is, juvenile halls and camps throughout California can be the place of nightmares for children, who are subjected to frequent abuse, particularly physical and sexual assault. Inmates can also be harassed relentlessly by predatory guards and other employees, who solicit them for nude photos and sexual favors. Others groom the children with attention, compliments, snacks, and extra privileges, so it seems like they are in a special relationship. This can make it easier to manipulate the child into a sexual relationship and have them stay quiet about the abuse afterwards.
Were you subjected to sexual abuse during your time at the Youth Detention Facility at 9601 Kiefer Blvd. Sacramento, Ca 95827? If so, please consider a free consultation with our law firm to learn about your rights and legal options. You may have grounds to sue the county for monetary damages if you were abused due to negligence and/or misconduct by the people who were supposed to protect you. Negligence can include not taking assault complaints seriously, not firing employees who are guilty of sexual misconduct, and many other examples of failure to prevent inmate abuse at the facility.
To discuss your experience at the Youth Detention Facility with one of our attorneys, contact our law firm as soon as possible.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$1.9 Million
$600,000
$1.5 Million
$54 Million
$525,000
$1.2 Million
Class Action Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse at Youth Detention Facility
As one of countless kids who were sexually abused at a youth detention center, you may be interested in joining a lawsuit with others who are in your situation. This is known as a class action lawsuit, and there are many advantages to filing a claim with other abuse victims that were incarcerated at the Youth Detention Facility. For one thing, it’s hard to deny that sexual misconduct by staff members occurred when so many former inmates come forward with similar stories.
In addition, the amount of evidence that’s available will be very compelling to a jury, and that’s why these lawsuits are generally ruled in favor of the plaintiff if they go to trial. That’s why state and county governments are eager to reach a settlement with those who are part of a class action lawsuit. Through back and forth negotiations, around 95% of these lawsuits are settled out of court. The key is to have a skilled attorney who knows what your case is worth, and has the ability to secure the highest possible settlement.
The Youth Detention Facility sexual abuse lawyers of Normandie are here to answer all your questions if you need information on suing Sacramento County for monetary damages. By scheduling a free consultation, you can learn about the legal process and the payments you are entitled to as someone that was failed by the juvenile justice system.
Suing Camp Erwin Owen – What is the Deadline?
One consideration that’s often overlooked is the deadline to file a lawsuit against the parties that caused you harm and suffering. The statute of limitations for a child sexual assault or abuse lawsuit begins on the victim’s 18th birthday, as 18 is the legal age of adulthood in California. Starting from that date, you have 22 years to sue Sacramento County for being sexually abused at the Youth Detention Facility.
However, California’s Assembly Bill includes provisions that can help you qualify for a sexual abuse lawsuit beyond the age of 40. Many victims who were abused during childhood hide the trauma of the event and suppress any memories that are painful to deal with. Unfortunately, this cycle of repression can lead to mental health issues that interfere with many aspects of their life. Realizing how they are suffering and connecting their disorder to sexual assault at Youth Detention Facility can happen many years down the road. If the victim has already passed their 40th birthday by this point, they still have 5 years to file a claim for sexual abuse during their childhood.
Compensation Amounts for a Juvenile Inmate Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Lawsuits filed by childhood sex abuse victims usually have values ranging from $500,000 to $5,000,000. Victims of sexual assault often receive higher amounts that those who were subjected to sexual exploitation. For the most part, Youth Detention Facility sexual assault claims are settled for over $1,500,000, though the actual amount can vary significantly from one case to another. We also have to consider the type of legal action that is filed by the victim. Many former juvenile inmates who were sexually abused join class action lawsuits, and these cases may result in verdicts or settlements of $30,000,000 or more. Of course, you must keep in mind that this is the total amount that’s awarded to all the victims that are part of the lawsuit.
How Long will It Take to Settle my Lawsuit?
Claims against detention facilities for inmate abuse typically take 1 or more years to settle, so it’s not unusual to wait between 12 and 24 months to get paid from a claim against Sacramento County. There are situations where a settlement is negotiated in just a few months, but the vast majority of YDF sexual assault cases will not be resolved this quickly. Overall, cases are settled through private negotiations between attorneys, so there is need to schedule a trial date. In the rare event that going to trial is required (which happens in less than 5% of all lawsuits), resolving a juvenile detention center sex abuse case will take over 3 years.
No Cost Legal Services
We completely understand how the cost of hiring a lawyer can hold you back from achieving justice as a victim of juvenile hall sexual abuse. That’s why clients never pay for the costs of legal fees here at Normandie Law Firm.
Our Zero Fee Guarantee is a policy where we agree to represent you on contingency. That means we ask the other party to cover the cost of representing you, which is paid on top of the settlement you receive from a successful lawsuit. In the event we don’t win your case, you owe us absolutely nothing.
A Youth Detention Facility sexual abuse lawyer is available to speak with you, so contact our office to schedule a free case review.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Strip Searches at Juvenile Halls
Cavity Searches at Juvenile Detention Centers
How Do I get Access to my Files from a Juvenile Hall or Detention Center
